Surface-water use is defined as the percent); other categories of surface- discharge has some error associated the following gaging stations represents vegetation, evaporation from open- mountainous regions in the northern volume of surface water diverted or water use include public supply, with it. No attempt has been made to tributary inflow from the San Juan water surfaces, and losses to the part of the watershed are the largest withdrawn from a river channel or commercial, domestic, industrial, quantify the error associated with the Mountains to the : Rio ground-water system. Increases and sources of water to the Rio Grande. source (Wilson and Lucero, 1997, p. 71- mining, thermoelectric, and livestock. mean annual discharge for each gaging Grande at Thirtymile Bridge, near decreases in mean annual discharge may Irrigation, the largest category of 74). After this water has been used, it station. Creede, (reference no. 1; be estimated for any given reach (the surface-water use in the Rio Grande 3 Sources of Water to the Rio Grande Upstream from may be returned to the river channel (for To evaluate water use in different 214 ft /s), Willow Creek at Creede, area of the watershed between any two watershed, generally results in 3 gaging stations) of the Rio Grande by decreases in mean annual discharge example, by return flows from parts of the watershed and to examine At some locations in the watershed, Colorado (reference no. 3; 22 ft /s), San Marcial, New agricultural areas) or it may leave the possible causes of variations in particularly in agricultural areas, water comparing all measured inflow (which throughout the surface-water system. Goose Creek at Wagon Wheel Gap, 11 12 surface-water system (for example, by discharge throughout the watershed, the moves downstream in the Rio Grande 3 includes mean annual discharge at the Mean annual discharge in the Rio By Stephanie J. Moore , Scott K. Anderholm , Tara Williams-Sether , and John M. Stomp Colorado (reference no. 5; 68 ft /s), evapotranspiration from agricultural watershed was divided into five reaches and in other channels adjacent to the upstream gaging station as well as that Grande generally decreases 12 areas). Water not returned to the river that were based primarily on locations Rio Grande such as agricultural canals South Fork Rio Grande at South Fork, of any tributaries) with all measured downstream from the confluence with U.S. Geological Survey, City of Albuquerque--Water Resources Management 3 channel is referred to as depletion and of gaging stations (fig. 1). Surface- or drains. At gaging Colorado (reference no. 6; 226 ft /s), outflow (the mean annual discharge at the . results in a decrease in discharge. As water use in the five reaches is shown in stations Rio Chama near Chamita and Conejos River near Lasauses, the downstream gaging station). In Introduction inches per year in the mountainous Divide) affect both the Rio Grande and 3 used herein, surface-water use does not figure 2 as a percentage of total surface- (reference no. 36), Rio Grande at San Colorado (reference no. 18; 193 ft /s). some cases, relatively small increases References areas to greater than 70 inches per year the Rio Chama. include evapotranspiration by riparian water use in 1990 (1,570,000 acre-feet). Felipe (reference no. 45), and Rio Mean annual discharge at the following or decreases may be due to the error The Rio Grande watershed is a near San Marcial (Ellis and others, associated with the computed mean 1993). Actual evapotranspiration (the Effluent discharge from wastewater- vegetation or evaporation from open- Reach 2 had the largest amount of Grande at Albuquerque (reference no. gaging stations represents tributary Ellis, S.R., Levings, G.W., Carter, L.F., complex hydrologic system that annual discharge at particular gaging total water removed from an area by treatment plants provides inflow to the water surfaces. surface-water use. Reaches 1 and 4 had 48), discharge is computed only in the inflow from the Sangre de Cristo Richey, S.F., and Radell, M.J., 1993, includes numerous tributaries, inflow stations. transpiration from plants and Rio Grande surface-water system. The relatively little surface-water use. Rio Grande; therefore, discharge Mountains to the Rio Grande: Red River Rio Grande Valley, Colorado, New from transmountain diversions, evaporation from soil, snow, and water Albuquerque wastewater-treatment Water use is affected by many Water use in the different reaches varies moving downstream through the below Fish Hatchery, near Questa, New Mexico, and Texas: Water Resources irrigation diversions, agricultural return 3 As shown in figure 1, most increases surfaces) is always less than potential plant is the largest in the watershed; factors such as population, climate, and because of allocations that are based on surface-water system is greater than Mexico (reference no. 22; 85 ft /s), Rio Bulletin, v. 29, no. 4, p. 617-645. flows, reservoirs, and ground-water legal constraints. The Rio Grande the Rio Grande Compact and locations that computed in the Rio Grande. At Pueblo de Taos below Los Cordovas, in discharge along the Rio Grande are inflows and outflows. Many people evapotranspiration because it is limited daily mean discharge from that plant to caused by tributary inflow. In some by available moisture (Linsley and the Rio Grande ranged from about 75 to Compact appropriates water use in the of irrigable land. New Mexico gaging stations Rio 3 Linsley, R.K., and Franzini, J.B., 1972, depend on and are affected by the Rio New Mexico (reference no. 24; 81 ft /s), cases, increases in mean annual Franzini, 1972, p. 33). 3 Rio Grande watershed. The States of Grande below Cochiti Dam (reference Water resources engineering: Grande, which is the largest river of the 100 cubic feet per second (ft /s) from Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas no. 43), Rio Grande Floodway near and Embudo Creek at Dixon, New discharge in the Rio Grande or Rio Sources of Water to the Rio 3 surface-water system draining the Rio 1985 to 1998 (U.S. Army Corps of Mexico (reference no. 26; 99 ft /s). McGraw Hill, 690 p. agreed upon the Compact for "the Grande Bernardo (reference no. 50), Rio Chama cannot be fully accounted for by Grande watershed. To provide The numerous tributaries in the Rio Engineers, 2002). the tributary inflow shown in figure 1. Grande watershed can be classified as purpose of effecting an equitable Grande Floodway at San Acacia Richey, S.F., and Ellis, S.R., 1993, information to further the apportionment of water in the Rio (reference no. 58), and Rio Grande Most water in the Rio Chama comes This could be due to inflow from either perennial or ephemeral. Perennial Reservoirs in the Rio Grande Mean annual discharge (the National Water Quality Assessment understanding of the Rio Grande Grande" (Rio Grande Compact Floodway at San Marcial (reference no. from the southern . ungaged tributaries (tributaries where tributaries flow throughout the year, watershed (fig. 1) are generally arithmetic mean of the annual mean Program--Water use in the Rio surface-water system, the U.S. Commission, 2001, p. 18), and surface- 60), discharge is computed in the Rio The mean annual discharge at gaging streamflow is not measured) or to whereas ephemeral tributaries are dry operated for water storage, sediment discharge for every year in a given Grande Valley, 1990: U.S. Geological Geological Survey, in cooperation with water use in those States is restricted by Grande and in other major channels station Rio Chama near Chamita, New ground-water inflow. For example, most of the year and flow only in removal, flood control, or some period) for 60 gaging stations 3 Survey Open-File Report the City of Albuquerque, evaluated Compact delivery obligations. adjacent to the Rio Grande; at these Mexico (reference no. 36; 649 ft /s), between gaging stations Rio Grande at response to snowmelt or intense combination of these uses. Reservoirs throughout the Rio Grande watershed 93-456, p. 1. streamflow data computed by the U.S. locations, the discharge computed in represents tributary inflow from the Thirtymile Bridge, near Creede, rainfall. The Rio Chama, which is the can alter discharge because the upstream from San Marcial is shown in Geological Survey at 60 streamflow- each channel was summed to represent southern San Juan Mountains and Colorado (reference no. 1), and Rio largest tributary to the Rio Grande, impounded water can be "lost" by An acre-foot is the quantity of water figure 1. To eliminate the comparison of Rio Grande Compact Commission, gaging stations. This fact sheet the total discharge moving downstream includes transmountain diversions to Grande at Wagon Wheel Gap, Colorado enters the Rio Grande upstream from evaporation or by infiltration (seepage) required to cover 1 acre to a depth of 1 data from periods of varying climatic 2001, Report of the Rio Grande examines the sources of water to the Rio through the surface-water system (fig. the Rio Chama, which are measured at (reference no. 4), approximately 320 the streamflow-gaging station Rio to the surrounding ground-water foot and is equivalent to 43,560 cubic conditions, water years 1975-98 were 3 Compact Commission 2000, 68 p. Grande and the "water balance" of the 1, table 1). gaging station Azotea Tunnel at Outlet, ft /s can be attributed to ungaged Rio Grande surface-water system Grande at Otowi Bridge, near San system. In addition, changes in feet or 325,851 gallons. chosen as a common period of record Ildefonso, New Mexico (fig. 1, near Chama, New Mexico (reference tributaries and ground-water inflow. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2002, upstream from San Marcial, New reservoir storage can affect mean (water year is the 12-month period 3 reference no. 39). Transmountain Gaging stations closest to the no. 29; 132 ft /s). The reach between gaging station Rio Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Mexico, by comparing the mean annual annual discharge; however, using a October 1 through September 30 diversions (imported water from the mouths of tributaries were chosen; for Grande near Lobatos, Colorado Model: discharge (streamflow) at different longer period of record to calculate designated by the calendar year in Colorado River watershed on the west some tributaries, however, the only Downstream from the confluence (reference no. 19), and the mouth of Red http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/ stations. mean annual discharge generally which it ends). Twelve gaging stations 3 side of the Continental Divide is Total surface-water use in 1990 in available data were for a station located with the Rio Chama, very little water River receives approximately 90 ft /s of Urgscripts/getData.pl (accessed minimizes the effects of changes in the Rio Grande watershed upstream did not have data available for the entire some distance upstream from the mouth transferred to the Rio Grande watershed K Q P 0 !rr= _ ` K # n :N /ir"q u ? d # !!2 rs "M _ ^ 0 N /d g q rf$ o < enters the Rio Grande (fig. 1). Mean ground-water inflow annually December 2002). reservoir storage. from San Marcial was approximately period of record; these exceptions are of the tributary (fig. 1). At such stations, Hydrologic Description of the on the east side of the Continental noted in table 1. Mean annual discharge annual discharge at gaging station (Winograd, 1959). Rio Grande Watershed 1,570,000 acre-feet (equivalent to a the discharge computed at the gaging Jemez River below Jemez Canyon Dam, 3 at these gaging stations may represent Wilson, B.C., and Lucero, A.A., 1997, discharge of 2,163 ft /s for 1 year) station is not necessarily equal to the New Mexico (reference no. 47; 77 ft3/s), different climatic conditions than those Discharge decreases by Water use by categories in New The study area includes the Rio (Richey and Ellis, 1993). The largest discharge that enters the Rio Grande (or represents tributary inflow from the 3 in 1975-98. Each mean annual approximately 640 ft /s in the reach Mexico counties and river basins, Grande watershed in Colorado and New use of surface water was irrigation (99 other receiving river). If inflow enters Jemez Mountains. Other tributary between the Colorado gaging stations and irrigated acreage in 1995: New Mexico upstream from San Marcial, the tributary between the gaging station inflow is from small perennial streams Rio Grande near Del Norte (reference Mexico State Engineer Office New Mexico, and covers approximately and its confluence with the Rio Grande, that drain the southern Sangre de Cristo Total surface-water use was 1,570,000 acre-feet per year (Richey and Ellis, 1993). no. 7) and Rio Grande at Alamosa Technical Report 49, 149 p. 27,700 square miles (fig. 1). Altitudes then discharge computed at the gaging Mountains or ephemeral streams that station will be smaller than the actual (reference no. 8) and by approximately in the watershed range from greater than drain the lower altitudes of the 3 Winograd, I.J., 1959, Ground-water 170 ft /s in the reach between San 14,000 feet along the northernmost volume entering the Rio Grande; this is watershed. conditions and geology of Sunshine Reach 5 Acacia, New Mexico (reference nos. 56, boundary of the watershed in Colorado Reach 1 most likely to occur in the uppermost Valley and western Taos County, New (21%) 57, and 58), and San Marcial, New to approximately 4,455 feet at San (less than 1%) parts of the watershed (for example, at Many factors in the Rio Grande Mexico: New Mexico State Engineer Mexico (reference nos. 59 and 60) (fig. Marcial, New Mexico. Average annual reference nos. 2 and 3). If diversions or watershed (see "Hydrologic Technical Report 12, 70 p. 1, table 1). precipitation varies from greater than seepage losses remove water between Description of the Rio Grande 50 inches per year along the the gaging station and its confluence Watershed") cause discharge to vary Discharge appears to decrease by northwestern mountainous areas to less with the Rio Grande, then discharge along the Rio Grande. Increases occur Reach 4 3 than 6 inches per year south of computed at the gaging station will be when inflows to the surface-water approximately 207 ft /s in the reach (2%) Albuquerque, New Mexico (Ellis and larger than the actual volume entering system exceed outflows from the between gaging stations Rio Grande at others, 1993). In the mountainous areas, the Rio Grande; this is most likely to system. Discharge decreases when San Felipe, New Mexico (reference no. the majority of annual precipitation occur in agricultural areas (for example, outflows exceed inflows. Inflows to the 45), and Rio Grande at Albuquerque, For more information contact: falls as snow during the winter months; at reference nos. 9, 10, 12, and 20). surface-water system include tributary New Mexico (reference no. 48). Actual District Chief Reach 2 at lower altitudes, the majority of inflow, return flows from irrigated decreases in mean annual discharge U.S. Geological Survey (61%) annual precipitation falls as rain during Reach 3 Most of the water in the Rio Grande areas, inflow from the ground-water cannot be determined for this reach, 5338 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Suite 400 late summer and early fall (15%) surface-water system comes from system, and effluent discharge from however, because of the presence of Albuquerque, NM 87109-1311 thunderstorms. tributary inflow that originates in the wastewater-treatment plants. Outflows ungaged streamflow in channels Email: San Juan or Sangre de Cristo Mountains from the surface-water system include adjacent to the river. [email protected] Potential evapotranspiration, which Figure 2. Surface-water use, by reach, as a percentage of total surface-water use and enters the watershed upstream from irrigation diversions, Internet: is approximated by open-water in the Rio Grande watershed upstream from San Marcial, New Mexico, Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge, near San evapotranspiration by riparian Tributaries draining the http://nm.water.usgs.gov Rio Grande below Goose Creek, Colorado. 1990. Reach boundaries shown in figure 1. Ildefonso, New Mexico (reference no. evaporation, varies from less than 35 39) (fig. 1). Mean annual discharge at U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Fact Sheet 110-03 U.S. Geological Survey December 2003 106°

s in a t n u o M 107° n 38° nJua 3 Reach 1 a r a S e 22 l 2 C . C N 30 r 4 e e e 7 k 586 d Reach 2 n k a e r 5 re 909 G S C o e i 68 s R R a o io 1 k 6 G 8 n o r r an k G o de F e 214 . 226 269 e S r Ju M 11 an Cra e 9 h o 315 c Alamosa n u ri T n 112 A t la 12 a m EXPLANATION La o sa i R 9.1 n J 13 ive 18 s a r r 10 Reach boundary a 100C 193 14 o Cr n eek 17

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a i Streamflow-gaging station reference number j 19 29 o n 93

m 327 s R iv14 o e t a 16 r n 528 a n Station location and mean annual discharge, h L S A

C o 123 o 132 s s in cubic feet per second (see table 1 for period of record) i 37° P R n in 20 C k o i o sRiver o e i 15 29 s e t r a R 52 i t Mean annual discharge, in cubic feet per second. l 28 l C 132 a Width of band (below) is approximately proportional n 22 u to magnitude of discharge 30 Heron Reservoir 85 o 146 21 Re dRiver M 31 28 Reach 3 564

R o 134 410 i d o 23 n El Vado o Reservoir O H j o o 39 Ri Ri o l 32 C b os uede Ta 0 55 180 700 1,400 1,700 o a P 523 C l io 350 1,000 i R 20 95 1,550 e 25 h Abiquiu n 24 ama t Reservoi3r 5 e 850 o e 81 t d 79 s i 33 i r v i 555 26 C D 34 99 581 36 27 649 Españo9la41 36° 38 e z d al eme 37 t J ns 4.2 en ntai ou 38 e in M iver t ez R r on Jem 39 C g Cochiti 1,660 n Lake a Reach 4 r e S iv 46 R 108° e 41 + 42 + 43F Santa Fe S 52 91 a n Jemez 1,640 ta k 40 e 15 e Reservoir r 12 C R

i G o a li Reach 5 47 st P eo u 45 e 44 r 77 c 1,610 o 5.5 Rio Rancho 53 Grants

0.87 Ri 48 o San J Albuquerque ose 1,480 54 35° e d 6.3 n a r G

COLORADO MAP AREA

o i R Ri o Sa la do 55 32 49 + 50 + 51 NEW 1,400 MEXICO 56 + 57 + 58 1,520 San Acacia LOCATION MAP

Socorro 34°

59 + 60 1,350 San Marcial Figure 1. Mean annual discharge at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the Rio Grande watershed upstream from San Marcial, New Mexico. Station names shown in table 1.

Table 1. Mean annual discharge at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the Rio Grande watershed upstream from San Marcial, New Mexico. ft3/s, cubic feet per second

U. S. Geological Survey Mean U. S. Geological Survey Mean Reference annual Reference annual Period of Reeaacchh Period of number Station discharge record number Station discharge record Reach (fig. 1) number Station name (ft3/s) used (fig. 1) (fig. 1) number Station name (ft3/s) used (fig. 1) 1 08213500 Rio Grande at Thirtymile Bridge, near Creede, Colo. 214 1975-98 1 31 08284520 Willow Creek below Heron Dam, N. Mex. 134 1975-98 3 2 08214500 North Clear Creek below Continental Reservoir, Colo. 30 1975-98 1 32 08285500 Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, N. Mex. 523 1975-98 3 1 3 08216500 Willow Creek at Creede, Colo. 22 1975-82 1 33 08286500 Rio Chama above Abiquiu Reservoir, N. Mex. 555 1975-98 3 4 08217500 Rio Grande at Wagon Wheel Gap, Colo. 586 1975-98 1 34 08287000 Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam, N. Mex. 581 1975-98 3 1 5 08218500 Goose Creek at Wagon Wheel Gap, Colo. 68 1975-91 1 35 08289000 Rio Ojo Caliente at La Madera, N. Mex. 79 1975-98 3 1 6 08219500 South Fork Rio Grande at South Fork, Colo. 226 1975-95 1 36 08290000 Rio Chama near Chamita, N. Mex. 649 1975-98 3 7 08220000 Rio Grande near Del Norte, Colo. 909 1975-98 1 37 08291000 Santa Cruz River at Cundiyo, N. Mex. 38 1975-98 3 1 8 08223000 Rio Grande at Alamosa, Colo. 269 1975-95 2 38 08292000 Santa Clara Creek near Española, N. Mex. 1 4.2 1985-94 3 1 9 08236000 Alamosa River above Terrace Reservoir, Colo. 112 1975-92 2 39 08313000 Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge, near San Ildefonso, N. Mex. 1,660 1975-98 3 1 10 08238000 La Jara Creek at Gallegos Ranch, near Capulin, Colo. 14 1975-82 2 40 08317200 Santa Fe River above Cochiti Lake, N. Mex. 12 1975-98 4 1,2, 3 11 08240000 Rio Grande above mouth of Trinchera Creek, near Lasauses, Colo. 315 1975-98 2 41 08314000 Sili Main Canal (at head) at Cochiti, N. Mex. 44 1975-98 4 1 1,2, 3 12 08243500 Trinchera Creek below Smith Reservoir, near Blanca, Colo. 9.1 1975-82 2 42 08313500 Cochiti Eastside Main Canal at Cochiti, N. Mex. 80 1975-98 4 13 08245000 Conejos River below Platoro Reservoir, Colo. 100 1975-98 2 43 08317400 Rio Grande below Cochiti Dam, N. Mex. 3 1,510 1975-98 4 14 08246500 Conejos River near Mogote, Colo. 327 1975-98 2 44 08317950 Galisteo Creek below Galisteo Dam, N. Mex. 5.5 1975-98 4 15 08247500 San Antonio River at Ortiz, Colo. 28 1975-98 2 45 08319000 Rio Grande at San Felipe, N. Mex. 1,610 1975-98 4 16 08248000 Los Pinos River near Ortiz, Colo. 123 1975-98 2 46 08324000 Jemez River near Jemez, N. Mex. 91 1975-98 4 1 17 08248500 San Antonio River at mouth, near Manassa, Colo. 93 1975-82 2 47 08329000 Jemez River below Jemez Canyon Dam, N. Mex. 77 1975-98 4 18 08249000 Conejos River near Lasauses, Colo. 193 1975-98 2 48 08330000 Rio Grande at Albuquerque, N. Mex. 1,480 1975-98 5 19 08251500 Rio Grande near Lobatos, Colo. 528 1975-98 2 49 08331990 Rio Grande Conveyance Channel near Bernardo, N. Mex.4 9.8 1975-98 5 20 08255500 Costilla Creek near Costilla, N. Mex. 52 1975-98 3 50 08332010 Rio Grande Floodway near Bernardo, N. Mex. 4 1,320 1975-98 5 21 08263500 Rio Grande near Cerro, N. Mex. 564 1975-98 3 51 08332050 Bernardo Interior Drain near Bernardo, N. Mex. 4 68 1975-98 5 1 22 08266820 Red River below Fish Hatchery, near Questa, N. Mex. 85 1978-98 3 52 08334000 Rio Puerco above Arroyo Chico, near Guadalupe, N. Mex. 15 1975-98 5 23 08267500 Rio Hondo near Valdez, N. Mex. 39 1975-98 3 53 08343000 Rio San Jose at Grants, N. Mex. 0.87 1975-98 5 24 08276300 Rio Pueblo de Taos below Los Cordovas, N. Mex. 81 1975-98 3 54 08343500 Rio San Jose near Grants, N. Mex. 6.3 1975-98 5 25 08276500 Rio Grande below Taos Junction Bridge, near Taos, N. Mex. 850 1975-98 3 55 08353000 Rio Puerco near Bernardo, N. Mex. 32 1975-98 5 26 08279000 Embudo Creek at Dixon, N. Mex. 99 1975-98 3 56 08354500 Socorro Main Canal North at San Acacia, N. Mex. 5 123 1975-98 5 27 08279500 Rio Grande at Embudo, N. Mex. 941 1975-98 3 57 08354800 Rio Grande Conveyance Channel at San Acacia, N. Mex.5 243 1975-98 5 28 08284100 Rio Chama near La Puente, N. Mex. 410 1975-98 3 58 08354900 Rio Grande Floodway at San Acacia, N. Mex .5 1,150 1975-98 5 29 08284160 Azotea Tunnel at Outlet, near Chama, N. Mex. 132 1975-98 3 59 08358300 Rio Grande Conveyance Channel at San Marcial, N. Mex. 6 268 1975-98 5 30 08284200 Willow Creek above Heron Reservoir, near Los Ojos, N. Mex. 146 1975-98 3 60 08358400 Rio Grande Floodway at San Marcial, N. Mex. 6 1,080 1975-98 5

1 Period of record used is not equal to 1975-98. 2 Missing data for 1993-94 and 1995. 3 Total discharge at Cochiti, N. Mex., is 1,630 ft 3/s and includes the Sili Main Canal, Cochiti Eastside Main Canal, and the Rio Grande (conveyance channels not shown on map). 3 4 Total discharge near Bernardo, N. Mex., is 1,400 ft /s and includes the Rio Grande Conveyance Chanel, Rio Grande Floodway, and Bernardo Interior Drain (conveyance channels not shown on map). 5 Total discharge at San Acacia, N. Mex., is 1,520 ft3/s and includes the Socorro Main Canal North, Rio Grande Conveyance Channel, and Rio Grande Floodway (conveyance channels not shown on map). 6 Total discharge at San Marcial, N. Mex., is 1,350 ft3/s and includes the Rio Grande Conveyance Channel and Rio Grande Floodway (conveyance channels not shown on map).